UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

GEGENPRESSING gained the latest of four career wins on soft ground at Sligo last spring and has been generally consistent since on a sounder surface including a close third at the Curragh on his penultimate start. Stanhope has won four times at this venue for John McConnell including over C&D last May and is closely matched with Step Back In Time as the pair filled the places behind Rosato here last autumn. Lismacbryan Hill was well backed at Bellewstown on Saturday when runner-up to Aurora Nova over 5f but may struggle to get home over this longer trip and stiff finish.
Prediction : 1st Gegenpressing 2nd Stanhope 3rd Lismacbryan Hill

MISSISSIPPI RIVER has been placed on all four starts and appears to have found a good opportunity to open his account. The superbly bred son of Lope De Vega had Omni Man over five lengths behind in third when runner-up at Galway last autumn and now steps up to a mile for the first time after filling third spot on his reappearance at Naas last month. Diego El Queso was about eight lengths back in sixth but was denied a clear run and should progress from that debut effort. Brandon Creek showed promise on debut in a Curragh maiden that has worked out well since, while Zahrann is a newcomer to note.
Prediction : 1st Mississippi River 2nd Brandon Creek 3rd Diego El Queso

The Ger Lyons-trained handicap debutant POETIC SOUND has the potential to develop into a stakes horse this season. A maiden winner at Roscommon in August, the four-year-old easily beat two previous scorers in a winners race at Bellewstown on his next appearance. Unraced at two, the son of Poet's Word is very lightly tried with any amount of improvement in him. On breeding, he should also appreciate the additional two furlongs that he encounters here. Bay Of Sanibel will find this easier having contested a French Group 3 on her final start last term. A handicap winner over course and distance last May, she has already proven her stamina. Fit from hurdling, Mordor also comes into calculations under his accomplished claimer.
Prediction : 1st Poetic Sound 2nd Bay Of Sanibel 3rd Mordor

It might pay to take a chance on IMARAJAN on his first run on the Flat for new connections. Runner-up over this trip at the Curragh in October, on his final start for Michael Halford and Tracey Collins, the four-year-old has subsequently run well in two spins over hurdles for his new yard. A mark of 68 looks exploitable for an ex-Aga Khan-owned gelding who is bred to appreciate a stamina test. Recent Dundalk scorer Billie Frechette also holds leading claims on her return to the grass. While her best form has come on the Polytrack, the Noel Meade-trained filly was runner-up at Roscommon last year. Duke Of Leggagh is another worthy of serious consideration in a competitive affair.
Prediction : 1st Imarajan 2nd Billie Frechette 3rd Duke Of Leggagh

DAKOTA BLUE should be able to make the breakthrough on his first start of the season. Runner-up at Tipperary on his debut, the Johnny Murtagh-trained gelding then finished fourth behind a trio of subsequent winners in a hot Curragh maiden in July. Losing little in defeat when beaten a head at Dundalk on his final juvenile outing, the son of Sioux Nation should appreciate the return to grass. Irish Derby entrant Nobler reached the frame on all three starts as a two-year-old. Joseph O'Brien's colt should be all the better for stepping up in trip here. Vorfreude showed enough on two starts at the Curragh to suggest he is capable of winning his maiden this term.
Prediction : 1st Dakota Blue 2nd Nobler 3rd Vorfreude

SECRET WORLD has plenty of UK form in the book and is of interest on her Irish debut for Ger O'Leary. Darragh O'Sullivan claims 7lb and she's appealing. Church Mountain has been competing in higher grades on the Polytrack at Dundalk and looks well treated. Hurricane Helen is another Dundalk regular who could appreciate reverting to grass. The last time she encountered quick ground, she was successful at Cork. If Step To Somewhere could get back to the form of her runner-up spot at Clonmel last September, then she would enter the equation. Heliogabalus and Seti are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Secret World 2nd Church Mountain 3rd Hurricane Helen

SOTTSANDS ran a cracker in third at Dundalk last time and is one to note on her turf debut. The winner of that Polytrack maiden is clearly useful and the selection doesn't look harshly treated off a mark of 68 for her handicap debut. Furthermore, Sam Coen takes 7lb off her back. The form of All Right By Me's third at Dundalk got a boost when the winner came out and won again. He is up in trip and looks a big player. Joseph O'Brien runs four horses and Junkyard Dog might be the pick of them.
Prediction : 1st Sottsands 2nd All Right By Me 3rd Junkyard Dog